The morning after Richard left for New York was a blur of emptiness. I stared at the ceiling, feeling the weight of his departure. I knew I had to move on with the day, but it was hard to summon the energy.
A knock on the door snapped me out of my thoughts. "Mrs Ambrose?" Came jame's familiar voice.
"Yes, come in," I called, sitting up.
James entered with a polite smile. "I'm here to take you to the Ambrose estate. Mr. Ambrose has arranged for you to stay there."
I nodded, trying to muster a smile. "Thank you, James."
The flight back to New York was a quiet one. I was tired and had not eaten anything all, weary and confused about what would come next, I drifted into sleep.
The drive was also a quiet affair. I looked out the window, watching the scenery pass by, my mind wandering to the confrontation in the lounge. Richard's possessiveness had left me confused and hurt. When we arrived at the estate, James escorted me inside, where we were greeted by a maid.
"This is Carla," James introduced. 'She'll help you with anything you need."
Carla, a middle aged woman with kind eyes, gave a slight bow. "Welcome, Mrs. Ambrose. Please, follow me."
I followed Carla to a luxurious suite. "Mr. Ambrose has arranged for a team to get you ready for the event tonight," Carla explained. "They'll be here shortly.
"Thank you, Carla." I replied in a soft tone.
As Carla left, I sat down and sighed. A team arrived soon after, bustling around with dresses, makeup and hair tools. They worked efficiently, transforming into a vision of elegance. I looked at myself in the mirror, barely recognizing the woman staring back.
Finally, I was ready. Descending the grand staircase, I felt a mixture of nerves and anticipation. But Richard was nowhere to be seen.
James appeared, offering me a reassuring smile. "Mr. Ambrose will meet us at the event. Shall we?"
I nodded, and we headed in the car. The event was grand, filled with influential figures and elegant decor. I felt out of place but forced myself to smile and be polite.
Richard's cold demeanor was a sharp contrast to the warmth of the event. He ignored me most of the time, only acknowledging me when we had to speak to important figures.
During a brief encounter, I saw my father and Silvia. My father gave me a brief nod, while Silvia's smile was laced with smugness. "Enjoying married life, dear sister?" Silvia asked, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
I forced a smile. "It's… different."
Silvia leaned in, her eyes gleaming."I heard Richard is quite the charmer. Lucky you."
My smile faltered, but before I could respond, my father intervened. "That's enough, Silvia. Kathryn, we must be going, good evening."
I watched them leave, my heart heavy. Needing some air, I slipped out to the garden. The night was cool, the garden was a serene estate from the bustling event. I wandered around the flowers, lost in thought, when a voice startled me.
"Beautiful night, isn't it?"
I turned to see a man emerging from the shadows. He had a friendly smile and relaxed demeanor. "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. I'm Micheal Whitehorse"
"Kathryn Ambrose," I replied, offering a tentative smile.
"Ah, Mrs. Ambrose," Micheal said, his eyes twinkling. "Mind if I join you?"
"Not at all," I replied, grateful for the company.
We walked together, talking about the event and the people there. Micheal had a knack for making me laugh, and soon we were making lighthearted jokes about some of the guests.
"See that man over there?" Micheal pointed discreetly. "He's been telling everyone the same story for the past one hour."
I giggled. "Oh no, I think I heard that one too, Something about a fish as big as his arm?"
Micheal nodded, grinning. "Exactly. And that lady in the purple dress? She's been complaining about the caviar since she arrived."
I laughed, feeling the weight lift from my shoulders. "You're good at this."
Micheal shrugged. "It's a gift. But enough about them. Kathryn. Tell me about you. How are you finding married life?"
I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. "It's... complicated."
Michael nodded, his expression sympathetic. "I understand. Sometimes, things aren't as simple as they seem."
We continued talking until I realized I should head back. "I should return to the event," I said reluctantly. "Richard might need me."
Michael nodded. "Of course. It was lovely talking to you, Kathryn."
"Likewise," I replied with a smile.
As I made my way back to the event, I saw Richard approaching. His expression darkened when he saw me with Michael. Without a word, he turned and walked away, leaving me standing there, confused and hurt.
James found me a short while later. "Mrs. Ambrose, it's time to go."
The drive back was silent, and I was lost in my thoughts. I felt a strange ache in my chest, a mix of sadness and confusion. Why did Richard's reaction bother me so much? And why did I feel a connection with Michael, a man I barely knew?
As we arrived at the estate, I realized the truth. I was developing feelings for Richard, despite everything. And that realization left me heartbroken.
***
As we arrived at the mansion, James helped me out of the car. "Thank you James." I muttered as I still felt uneasy about the evening and how the latter part of the event played out. "Good night James." I said softly as he gave me a slight nod and drove off.
As I turned to the mansion, I took off my heels, I had grown weary from the event and I didn't have a proper meal all day which made me feel light headed. I strolled to the door and rang the bell but no one responded, I rang it two more times and Clara had still not answered so I made an attempt to open it by twisting the door knob and I opened effortlessly. I stepped into the hall calling out for Clara,